Vanderbilt Stadium is empty for the weather delay late in the first half of the game between Vanderbilt and MTSU on Sept. 10, 2016. Vanderbilt is the only SEC school that has not overhauled its football stadium in the past 15 years. Helen Comer / DNJ

There was a lot of orange in the stands and empty spaces in the Vanderbilt section as Tennessee prepared to play Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt Stadium.
Saturday Nov. 29, 2014. Larry McCormack, / The Tennessean

Fans sit on the hill under the new score board at the SEC football game against South Carolina at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. (JAE S. LEE / THE TENNESSEAN) Jae S. Lee The Tennessean

Workers from Sports Turf Solutions, the company leading the re-sodding, and Tri Turf Sod, lay new grass at Vanderbilt Stadium July 14, 2011. The 80,000 square feet of turf needed to be replaced after a recent U2 concert. Sanford Myers / The Tennessean

Alabama famed coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, center, leads his team onto the field for their game with Vanderbilt. The Commodores were defeated 40-7 before 34,000 fans at Dudley Field on Sept. 27, 1975. Kit Luce / The Tennessean

Vanderbilt star tight end Barry Burton (89) grabs the two-point conversion pass from quarterback David Lee (8), left on his back in this image. Burton got behind Florida defender Alvin Cowans (24) at Dudley Field Oct. 12, 1974. Robert Johnson / The Tennessean

Condredge Holloway, Tennessee sophomore quarterback (7) scampers around against Vanderbilt Dec. 2, 1972. Looking on are Vanderbilt's Mark Llewellyn (87), UT's David Shafer (77) and Mike Kirk (75) and George Abernathy (89), both of Vanderbilt. The Vols won 30-10 before 34,000 fans at Dudley Field in Nashville. Robert Johnson / The Tennessean

Injured Vanderbilt University star Chip Healy leans on his crutches as he gazes down on Dudley Field, where his Commodores teammates are engaged in spring practice April 15, 1967. Robert Johnson / The Tennessean

Tennessee receiver Johnny Mills (85) is catching the pass as Vanderbilt defenders Trow Gillespie (34) falls down and Bob Goodridge (35) looks on. Tennessee won 28-0 for their seventh win of the season before 26,882 at Dudley Field Nov. 26, 1966. Bill Preston / The Tennessean

Vanderbilt end Gary Hudson (86) can only twist in frustration as the ball is deflected over his head and out of reach by Tennessee defender Wayne Waff. Tennessee walloped the Commodores 30-0 before an estimated 25,500 fans at Dudley Field in Nashville in 1962. Jimmy Ellis / The Tennessean

Two years after pondering preliminary plans, Vanderbilt is no closer to building a new football stadium or renovating its current one, and that lack of progress may be self-inflicted.

Multiple sources told The Tennessean university administrators undercut efforts to raise funds for a stadium project to focus on building other campus structures. Athletics fundraisers were prohibited from soliciting certain donors already targeted by university fundraisers. Vanderbilt is amid a $600 million capital project, which includes no athletics facilities.

The National Commodore Club, the primary fundraiser for Vanderbilt athletics, is moving from McGugin Center to the Loews Vanderbilt Plaza in the development and alumni relations office, the headquarters for fundraising for non-athletics campus projects.

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Vanderbilt Stadium has undergone numerous renovations since it was first built at current site in 1922. Most of current structure built was in 1981.
Adam Sparks

McGugin Center houses Vanderbilt athletics. Vanderbilt will be the only SEC school with its primary athletics fundraiser office not located in either an athletics department building or a freestanding building in the athletics area of campus. Sources said it illustrates Vanderbilt’s institutional de-emphasis of athletics.

University spokesman Ian Morrison declined to provide a reason for the consolidation of the university and athletics fundraising offices. But he said the National Commodore Club has always been a branch of the development and alumni relations office rather than under the purview of the athletics department.

That also makes Vanderbilt athletics fundraising unique in the SEC. Among the other 13 member schools, eight have their athletics fundraising under the athletics department, and five others raise funds through an athletics-specific nonprofit foundation.

When asked if Vanderbilt administrators, either in policy or practice, prohibit athletics fundraisers from soliciting certain donors already targeted by university fundraisers, university spokesman Princine Lewis declined comment.

The Tennessean’s request to interview Chancellor Nicholas Zeppos for this story was declined. In a statement, the university said: “We’re always looking for ways to improve the fan experience, but we have no immediate plans to build a new stadium or to undertake any major renovations.”

Meanwhile, athletics director David Williams said a renovation to Memorial Gym may happen before any major work is done to Vanderbilt Stadium.

Vanderbilt athletics director has ‘desire’ for new stadium

As Vanderbilt opens preseason football practice this week, Williams said he wants to upgrade the stadium.

“Oh, the desire is very much there,” Williams said. “People say that we are not interested in (a stadium project). Trust me, there is no AD in this conference that wants to do things to win a championship more than I do.

TSU coach Rod Reed, front left, with Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason, right, explains the status of TSU linebacker Christion Abercrombie to their players after the game Sept. 29, 2018. Abercrombie collapsed on the sideline late in the first half and was in critical condition after emergency surgery for a head injury. AP

Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason argues with a referee during the first half of a game against MTSU at Vanderbilt Stadium Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason motions to his players during the second half of their game against Kentucky at Vanderbilt Stadium Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason watches his team face Georgia during the first half of an NCAA football game at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com

Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason heads onto the field before a NCAA football game between Vanderbilt and Georgia at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com

Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason looks over at the official after a call during the 1st half of an NCAA football game at Vanderbilt Stadium Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason greets Alabama A&M head coach James Spady after their victory against Alabama A&M in an NCAA football game at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com

Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason watches the game during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com

Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason confers along the sidelines during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com

Head coach Derek Mason, center walks along the sidelines with the other coaches during Vanderbilt's spring showcase practice at the Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, March 25, 2017. Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean

Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Derek Mason communicates with his team during the first half against the Ole Miss Rebels at Vanderbilt University, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Vanderbilt Head Coach Derek Mason, left, argues with a side judge Tony Meyer about a call against his team during the second quarter against Old Dominion at Vanderbilt Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. Jae S. Lee / The Tennessean

Grad Student Evan Kennedy gets new Head Coach Derek Mason to sign a poster for him at a meet and greet prior to the Vanderbilt-Tennessee men's basketball game
Wednesday Feb. 5, 2014, in Nashville, TN. Larry McCormack / THE TENNESSEAN

Commodore fans had a chance to meet new Head Coach Derek Mason and his football staff prior to the Vanderbilt-Tennessee men's basketball game Wednesday Feb. 5, 2014, in Nashville, TN. Larry McCormack / THE TENNESSEAN

New Vanderbilt football coach Derek Mason, center, Chancellor Nicholas Zeppos, left, and Athletics Director David Williams pose for a photograph at the end of a press coneference at McGugin Center in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014. Jae S. Lee / The Tennessean

New Vanderbilt football coach Derek Mason, right, shakes hands with fans as he walks on the Star Walk on the campus at McGugin Center in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014. Jae S. Lee / The Tennessean

At SEC Media Days two weeks ago, football coach Derek Mason said he is confident Vanderbilt can figure out a plan for a stadium project. But he is focused on coaching in the upcoming season while the administration tries to navigate obstacles for a new stadium.

“I think we need to address it now because the skyrocketing costs of building are not going to go down in Nashville,” Mason said. “We have to be smart and strategic and also work with a sense of urgency.”

Williams said the university “does not pull any (money) off the top” of that $40 million for campus projects, but it is used in athletics department operations and expenses, some that exceed other SEC schools.

Vanderbilt players head into the stadium before a game between Vanderbilt and Western Kentucky at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017.(Photo: Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com)

Vanderbilt’s ongoing $600 million capital project along the West End Avenue side of campus is a source of university pride, but it does not include any work for a much-needed football stadium renovation.

In 2016, Williams estimated that a new stadium would cost between $60 million and $90 million, or perhaps more depending on amenities and several other factors.

Vanderbilt tuition, aid higher than other SEC schools

Apart from any possible infighting over fundraising, Williams said Vanderbilt’s distinct emphasis on elite academics and inclusion creates challenges in athletics that public universities do not face.

In 2009, Vanderbilt greatly expanded its need-based financial aid so prospective students from low-income households could afford the high tuition. The program has been a source of pride for the university and Williams.

However, the athletics department must pay for scholarships, cost-of-attendance and expanded financial aid for all student-athletes through its portion of the endowment. That’s an estimated cost-of-attendance of $70,146 per undergraduate student-athlete for the 2018-19 academic year, according to the Vanderbilt office of student financial aid and scholarships.

The other 13 SEC schools, all public universities, range in cost-of-attendance from $21,000 to $33,000 for in-state students and $40,000 to $55,000 for out-of-state students.

“People need to realize things like (need-based financial aid) comes out of (the athletics portion of) the endowment,” Williams said. “I would much rather they use the endowment money for something like that, and we’ll go out and raise the money for (a stadium project).”

‘No imminent plans’ for a stadium project

For better or worse, that initiative makes Vanderbilt a unique member in the facilities-rich SEC.

Vanderbilt Stadium has not undergone a major renovation since 1981. Each of the other 13 SEC schools have had major football stadium renovations since 2006, costing a total of $1.6 billion. In contrast, Vanderbilt has added only a few cosmetic improvements, including artificial turf and a new video board, since 2006.

Vanderbilt opened a $30 million multipurpose indoor practice facility in 2014, which is separate from the stadium. It was funded by a combination of philanthropy and university investment, according to the Vanderbilt athletics website.

“It’s a challenge when you’re a private school as opposed to a state flagship university, and what state schools can do as it relates to bonding mechanisms and how the state legislature feels about you having (stadium projects),” Williams said. “… We clearly know that our stadium situation needs to be improved, but there are no imminent plans.”

In September 2016, Williams met with university planners and financial officers to accelerate plans for a new stadium or a renovation to the current one. But that momentum fizzled and fundraising efforts fell short.

In December 2017, Nashville won a bid for a Major League Soccer expansion franchise and got initial approval to build a new soccer stadium primarily funded by an ownership group led by John Ingram, a chief benefactor for Vanderbilt athletics.

“I’m not going to say that fundraising is the problem. Fundraising has to be the solution,” Williams said. “My position is whatever we do, we are going to raise the money (exclusively in the athletics department). People need to understand that we’ve never turned to the university and said, ‘Give us the money to build that.’”

Memorial Gym renovation may precede stadium

Williams said Vanderbilt is the “planning stage” of a renovation to Memorial Gym, a project that may occur before any stadium project. But even that renovation has a wide range of possibilities.

Some cosmetic touch-ups to Memorial Gym would not be very costly. But any major infrastructure work to the 66-year-old arena would include installing an air-conditioning system at a cost of at least $5 million, according to Williams.

“Memorial (Gym) would probably come before (Vanderbilt) Stadium, but I don’t want to leave the impression that we’re not going to do anything to the stadium,” Williams said. “That doesn’t mean we won’t go in there and do some things.”

Vanderbilt star tight end Barry Burton (89) grabs the two-point conversion pass from quarterback David Lee (8), left on his back in this image. Burton got behind Florida defender Alvin Cowans (24) at Dudley Field Oct. 12, 1974.(Photo: Robert Johnson / The Tennessean)

Vanderbilt Stadium timeline

1892: Old Dudley Field (later Curry Field) first used as home field.

1922: New Dudley Field dedicated as first stadium in South used exclusively for college football.

1949: New press box and seats added to west side for capacity of 27,901.

1960: Additional seats on east side expands capacity to 34,000.

1970: AstroTurf installed for $250,000.

1980-81: Major renovation/new construction yields Vanderbilt Stadium.

1998: JumboTron video screen installed as Tennessee Oilers play home games there.